Coin dispenser



Feb. 25, 1947. l E. F. LEE'JSE 2,416,486

COIN DISPENSER Filed May 1, 1946 INVENTOR.- EDWARD F. LEESE ATTOR N E Y5 Patented Feb. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Edward F. Leese, Everett, Wash.

Application May 1, 1946, Serial No. 666,265

Coin dispensers are required at places such as public telephone centrals, where it is necessary to dispense the equivalent of large coins in smaller coins. They are also required as part of change-making machines. While the present invention concerns either type of coin dispenser, it is particularly designed for the purpose of breaking up large coins into smaller denominations, as dollars into half-dollars or quarters, half-dollars into dimes, or quarters into nickels.

It goes without saying that it is necessary in such a coin dispenser to provide a device capable of operating with great accuracy to dispense the precise number ofcoins desired, no more and no less. Such a device, therefore, must be rugged, simple, and dependable, and these are the general aims of the present invention.

However, the present invention aims additionally to provide a construction to the ends indicated, which may be conveniently, simply, and cheaply made by manufacturing processes such as stamping or die casting, or both, with little necessity for finishing operations,notwithstanding the accuracy required.

More especially it is an object to provide an apertured coin slide, whereby a predetermined number of coins are moved from the hopper, whence they are delivered, to a delivery point, in which slide are incorporated means for returning it automatically to its initial position, yet one in which the parts are simply and compactly arranged. 7

One further object is attained by the present invention, namely, so to arran e and operate the several parts of such a coin dispenser that the operation occurs by a finger of a hand which is thrust beneath the delivery point, so that as the finger effects movement of the slide in a manner to effect delivery of coins, the hand of which that finger is a part is naturally and necessarily dispo ed in. such position to receive the coins thus delivered.

These objects and others, such as will appear as the specification progresses, will be more clearly understood from a study of the accompanyin'g drawings, of this specification, and of the claims which terminate the same.

In the accompanying drawings the invention been shown embodied in a typical form, such asis at present preferred by me.

The invention comprises the novel combination "and arrangement of the various parts, in the manner and to the ends indicated.

Figure l is a section on a vertical plane, longitudinally of a multiple dispenser unit.

Claims. (01. 133-5) Figurev 2 is an enlarged isometric view, with various parts broken away and shown in section, illustrating the cooperative relationship of the various parts.

Figure 3 is an isometric view, from below, of one of the slides.

A base plate I is provided with one or several apertures, according to whether it is to dispense one type of coin or several, each aperture being of a size to pass a particular coin. One advantage of this structure is that each unit is sufliciently compact that several may be located closely adjacent, for handling coins of several different denominations. Hoppers, such as the upstanding cylinders ll, receive and collect the coins in neat stacks, ready to pass through the apertures in the base plate. In the arrangement shown the hoppers H are reduced and shouldered at their lower ends to fit within, and to be swaged into, apertures in the base plate, so that in effect the aperture in the base plate is constituted by the lower portion of the hopper ll.

The base plate is notched in its under side, as indicated as 12, for the reception of a slide 2, which is .thus guided for movement forwardly and rearwardly. Preferably the guides are rectilinear guides, 50 that the slide moves from front to rear, and the reverse. Each slide is apertured, as indicated at 26, the aperture being of a size to register With the aperture in the base plate I or with the bore of the cylinder l l., and each slide is of a thickness just sufiicient to contain a predetermined number of coins of the particular denomination to be'h-andled, stacked one upon another. y

To prevent the coins from falling through when the aperture 20is in registry with the hopper H, as it is normally, a bottom plate 3 is secured to the under side of the base plate I, as by the screws 30, and serves the additional function of holding the slides 2 within their respective notches [2. This facilitates ease of assembly, as will appear more fully hereafter. Each bottom plate, however, is notched, or recessed at its forward edge, as is lndicated at 3| .slide beyond the confines .of the base plate. To

retain the slide normally ,inits rearward position, without bulky spring mounting or retaining 2 and the plate, whether it be the bottom plate 7,

4 arranged for delivery of coins through said aperture, a slide guided in said slot, having an aperture to register with the base-plate aperture,

' and of thickness to receive a predetermined num- 3 or the base plate I, I provide onthe forward 7 edge of the plate agroove-filling lug 23, and

upon the rear edge of the bottom plate 3 I pro- 7 vide a similar groove-filling lug 33. The spring 4, seated within the grooves 22 and 32, and beher of coins, a bottom plate underlying said slide,

secured to said base plate, and notched in its forward edge for registry with the slides aperture, compression coil springs, one at each side of said slide, the slide and bottom plate being complementally grooved to receive said springs, the slide having a groove-filling lug at its rear edge, and the bottom plate having a similar lug at its forward edge, to seat the respective ends of said springs, and a handle carried by the rear of said slide, to shift the same in opposition to said springs by the fingers of a hand held to eatch coins when the slide is shifted forwardly.

tween the lugs 23 and 33, urges the slide 2 rear- Wardly, to a position such that its aperture 2% lies in registry with the bore of the hopper II.

It is necessary that parts he stopped quite accurately in suchposition. Accordingly, I provide a stop 24 upon the forward edge of the slide '2, which engages the edge of the base plate I, or which may be received into a recess l4, to constitute a stop limiting rearward movement of the slide. A similar stop limits forward movement of the slide, as will shortly be explained. It is extremely convenient to support the base board I elevated above a table T or similar support. To that end depending legs l5 are provided at the opposite ends of the base board, whereby to support the latter elevated above the table. Now a handmay be thrust beneath the elevated base board, and by engaging a handle l6 depending beneath the rear end of the slidel, by one finger of such a hand, so positioned, the slide may be moved forwardly, and when it completes its forward movement the coins it has entrapped will drop into the hand placed beneath it, which will thus receive these coinsn This handle l5 at the same time may well engage a notch or edge 35 of'the bottom plate 3, to limit forward movement of. the slide., Immediately the coins have dropped, the finger releases the handle IE, and the slide is returned to its rearward position by the springs 4.- Two such springs being employed, of substantially equal force, the slide moves readily and without any, tendency to cook or stick within its guide l2. d

Each individual part is simple, and there are but few parts in all. 7 Most of them can be made as die-castings, at low cost, and are not expensive to make even if the volume does not warrant the expense of dies, Assembly is a simple matter, sincethe hoppers II can first be swaged in place within the apertures-of the base plate, wherewith. each complete reciprocation of a slide, so

.7 suchaperture and having le s for its support in elevated position above a table, a coin hopper 2. In a coin dispenser, an apertured base plate, a slide guided therein for shifting in the plane of said base plate, apertured for registry with the base plates aperture, and of a thickness to receive a predetermined number of coins, a bot- .tom plate underlying said slide throughout a part of its path, to retain coins in its aperture While it is in such part, but to release such coins when the slide passes beyond such part, a groove in said slide and a matching groove in one of said plates, parallel to the slides direction of movement, a groove-filling lug outstanding from one such grooved member, at one end of the groove, and a similar groove-filling lug outstanding from the other such grooved member at the other end of the groove, a coil spring engaged by its opposite ends with the respective lugs, whereby to urge said slide into one limit position, and co"- operating stop means to restrain movement of the V slide between two limit positions, in one whereof its aperture registers with that of the base plate, and in the other whereof its aperture is beyond said bottom plate.

3 In a coindispenser, an apertured base plate, a slide guided therein for sliding movement transversely of said base plate, apertured for registry with the base plates aperture, and of a thickness to receive a predetermined number of coins, a bottom plate underlyin said slide, and closing said apertures when those of the slide and base plate are in registry, but notched in its forward edge for release of coins from the slide "between'the slide and such plate, to urge said slide to remain in its rearward limit position.

4. In a ooin dispenser, an apertured base plate, a slide guided therein for sliding movement transversely of said base-plate, apertured for registry with the base plates aperture, and of a thickness to receive a predetermined number of coins, a bottom plate underlying said slide, and

closing said apertures when those of the slide and base plate are in registry, but notched in its forward edge for release of coins from the slide when the latter'is slid forwardly, stop meansto restrain movement of the slide between rearward and forward limit positions wherein its aperture registers, respectively, with the apertureof the base plate, and with the notch of the bottom plate, said slide and said bottom plate being complementally grooved along opposite sides of the apertures, groove-filling lugs depending from the slide at its rear edge, groove-filling lugs upstanding from the bottom plate at its forward edge, and compression coil springs received within said grooves and reacting between the lugs of the slide and plate, respectively.

5. In a coin dispenser, an apertured base plate, a slide guided therein for sliding movement transversely of said base plate, apertured for registry with the base plates aperture, and of a thickness to receive a predetermined number of coins, a bottom plate underlying said slide, and closing said apertures when those of the slide and base plate are in registry, but notched in its forward edge for release of coins from the slide when the latter is slid forwardly, stop means to restrain movement of the slide between rearward and forward limit positions wherein its aperture registers, respectively, with the aperture of the base plate, and with the notch of the bottom plate, said slide and said bottom plate being complementally grooved along opposite sides of the apertures, groove-filling lugs depending from the slide at its rear edge, groove-filling lugs upstanding from the bottom plate at its forward edge, compression coil springs received within said grooves and reacting between the lugs of the slide and plate, respectively, and a handle depending from the rear portion of said slide.

EDWARD F. LEESE.

'REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Ingle Aug. 28, 1917 

